I like the process of pencil and paper as opposed to a machine. I think the writing is better when it's done in handwriting.

You have to go out of your way as a suspense novelist to find situations where the protagonists are somewhat helpless and in real danger.

Panic---a deep abiding, free-floating anxiety, often without any reason or logical basis.

Chemical and biological attacks are scary and will kill a lot of people but dont rise to the level of nuclear.

I was trained in Army Intelligence, but spent most of my army career in the infantry. But like many people of my generation, I was very much caught up in the Cold War, and books and movies about espionage.

Writing doesn't leave much time for hobbies, unless you consider that I began writing as a hobby and have made the hobby into a profession.

It's good to stay as close to real life as you can, and then kind of dress it up.